137 
February 11.] 
THE FIELD. 
small rooms of which it consisted ; and in the front and 
hack attics lived respectively an aged woman, whose uamo 
unknown, and a journeyman tailor named Adams, with 
l,is wire. The alarm was first given by a policeman about a 
n uar ter" to 5 o’clock in the morning. While on duty, he 
observed smoke issuing from the windows of the first floor, 
and a flickering light as of flames kindling. He gave an 
immediate alarm, and messengers were despatched to the 
various brigade stations in the neighbourhood, the constable, 
with other persons, endeavouring to arouse the inmates. 
The flames had made considerable progress before the dis- 
covery took place ; and almost before the inmates could bo 
alarmed, the fire had reached the second and third floors, at 
the windows of which several persons were observed im- 
ploring assistance. The fire-escape had not at this time ar- 
rived;' and it being impossible to render aid by any means 
at hand, the most disastrous consequences were feared, 
as from the old character of the building, it was plainly 
seen that its destruction would bo completed in a very 
short time. Within a very few minutes after the out- 
break had been discovered, Puzzi, who, with his wife 
and three children, had been observed at the windows 
imploring assistance, precipitated himself into the street, 
falling with groat violence on the flagstones, and sustaining 
such injuries as necessitated his immediate removal on a 
shutter to the Charing-cross Hospital. In a very few 
minutes afterwards, and before the arrival of either the 
engines or the fire-escape, all those previously seen at the 
windows had disappeared, and their terrible fate was too 
apparent. When the Wells-strcet and other engines came, 
they were soon got to work, and the fire was very shortly 
subdued, leaving the ground -floor untouched, and a large 
portion ofthe first and second floor staircasos standing. At 
8 o’clock an examination of the upper rooms was made, 
under the direction of Paul Girrard, of the Well-street 
brigade station, when the lull exiont of the calamity was at 
once apparent. In the second-floor front room, mid near 
the window where Puzzi had precipitated himself, were 
found the half-charred remains of lus unfortunate wife and 
three children, the youngest only two yours of age. In the 
back attic the bodies of the journeyman tailor and his wife, 
und of the old woman who had occupied the front attic, 
were found lying in a heap, as if they had fallen down and 
died together. The remains of all the doceased porsons 
were gathered up as carefully as possible, and a number of 
shells having been procured, they were conveyed to St. 
Anne's deadhouse to await the coroner’s inquest. Tho eauso 
of the fire is unknown at present, though it is believed to 
have originated in Mr. Anther’s apartment. The occupants 
ofthe upper floors were in very poor circumstances, and 
have mostly been in receipt of parochial relief during the 
winter. Tho painful occurrence excited deep sympathy in 
the neighbourhood. The house is the property of Mrs. 
Cook, of Lainbs-condult-place, and is insured in tho Norwich 
Union office. Mr. Reeve aud Mr. Anther are insured in the 
County and in the Farmers’ Insurance offices. [It is now 
said more than seven lives were lost. — E d.] 
Lords Temporal.— Lord Plunket (the Bishop ofTuam) 
took the oaths in the House of Lords on Monday evening, 
as one of tho Lords Temporal, and took his seat on the 
opposition benches, behind the Earl of Derby. There are 
now three bishops in tho House of Lords who are Lords 
Temporal, viz., Lord Auckland, Bishop of Sodor and Man ; 
Lord Itiversdule, Bishop of Killaloo ; and Lord Plunket, 
Bishop ofTuam. 
Monster Diamond. — One of tho largest diamonds 
known was on Tuesday deposited at the Bank of England 
by a London house, to whom it was consigned from Rio 
Janeiro. Its weight is 254 carats, and its estimated value, 
according to tho scale, 280,000/. It is said to be of the 
finest water, and without flaw, and was found by a negro 
slave, who received his freedom as a reward. 
SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS. 
The Hardwicke Reformatory Establishment. — 
This establishment has lately attracted some attention, aud 
many strangers have visited it Among them wore several 
members of Parliament. Hardwicke, in which this asylum 
is situate, is about four miles from Gloucester, on the side 
of the Gloucester and Berkeley Cuuul. It is n small brick 
building, with a few rough sheds around it. At one end of 
the building is the dwelling of the overlooker, and at tho 
other the apartments of the schoolmaster. There are at 
present 17 inmates, who are properly taken care of, and 
taught and employed. A recent visitor states, that when he 
went there most of the boys were at work at spade hus- 
bandry, but two or three were occupied in household work. 
One was on his knees scrubbing the bedroom floor, and 
another, who appeared to be the tailor of the establishment, 
was sitting cross-legged mending his trousers. The history 
of this boy is a melancholy one. Although only 14, he was 
seven times convicted as a thief in London, and was brought 
to Hardwicke by Mr. Bengough, one of the most active sup- 
porters of the institution. The boy seemed willing to answer 
questions, but did not. exhibit the least compunction for his 
misdeeds. It appears that he was neglected by his father, 
and in order to indulge bis taste for cheap theatres, ho began 
to rob shop-tills, which soon procured him a cell in West- 
minster House of Correction. A note is taken of the cha- 
racter and conduct of the boys, and the utmost exertions are 
used to reform them. The boys have a regular routine of 
duties to perform, but time is allowed for recreation. They 
are, of course, instructed in religion. Their studio> comprise 
writing, reading, und elementary geography. On one day 
a-week drawing is also taught. Thoir work consists of out- 
door agricultural labour, and in wet weather they are em- 
ployed at basket making indoors, and some of them at 
tailoring and shoemnking. They are punished if they 
behave badly, and rewarded for good conduct. 
Dover — Annual Excursion Society. — Asocietyhas 
be?n formed here for promoting anuuul excursions among t'na 
operatives and other classe* ou economic principles. The 
excursions are to extend from six to ton or twelve days ; the 
first to be undertaken in tho ensuing summer for six days 
to Paris. The subscriptions are fixad at as moderate a rate 
as possible. 
Educational Exhibition. — The council ofthe Society 
of Arts have determined to hold an educational exhibition 
in tho month of June of the present year, when tho confer- 
ence of the representatives of its various affiliated institutions, 
now amounting to 835 in number, will talcs place. The 
council have already sought the aid of her Majesty’s Secre- 
taries of State for Foreign Affairs and for the Colonies, with 
the view of obtaining models of the schools of primary 
instruction, approved by the Departments of Public Instruc- 
tion in France, Prussia, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark, 
Sweden, Canada, and at Washington, Now York, or Massa- 
chusetts; and specimens of every urticle authorised to be 
used in the different classes of schools recognised by each 
stute, as well as of the writing, drawing, needlework, printed 
examination papers, &e , done in the schools. The council 
have also usked to bo furnished with copios of the codes 
of public instruction in force in each country, and they 
promise to publish nt the time of the exhibition an English 
synopsis of the whole. Letters have likewiso beon addressed 
to the large educational bodies and government departments 
dealing with the subject in this country, claiming their 
co-oporation in tho undertaking. 
Royal General Annuity Society. —On Wednesday 
evening last this society held its annual festivul at the 
London Tavern, C. R. Ncwdegate, E>q., M.P. in the chair. 
The report of the Secretary, S. J. Aldrich, Esq. was most 
satisfactory as to tho present and future meins of tho society. 
This excellent institution was, on this occasion, supported 
by a very goodly company, and additionally graced by the 
presence of tho lair sex — who, as usual, were enthusiastic in 
their charitable contributions. 
PROVINCIAL. 
CROWN-OFFICE, Fbd. 7. 
[From tho London Gazette of Tuesday.] 
Mbmdeu returned to Serve in this present Parliament. 
Borough of Brecknock. — John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins, of 
Ponnoyro, in the county of Brecknock, Esq., in the room of 
Charles Rodney Morgan, Esq., deceased. 
Gravesend. — Romance in Real Life.— A vessel 
was towed down the Thames on Tuesday week in charge of 
a Gravesend pilot. On reaching Gravesend the vossel was 
loft at anchor, and tho surgeon of tho ship accompanied the 
pilot on shore, and wont homo with him. The pilot, it ap- 
pears, had at home two fair daughters of Eve, both in a state 
of single blesseduess ; and the gallant surgeon, struck with 
the sudden thought that his bucholor state during u long 
voyage to Sydney, whither he was bound, would be very 
lonely, proposed for one of tho daughters, and was accepted. 
There was no time for courtship or doubt ; the ship sailed 
the next day. The license was accordingly procured, and 
the next morning, at eight o’clock, found tho gay Lothario, 
with his bride, and her sister as bridesmaid, at the door of 
the parish of Old Milton ; — and now comes the most inter- 
esting, or rather tho most ludicrous part of tho story. The 
service had proceeded as far as that very important, but very 
short response, when the lady had to say “ I will ;” whon she 
looked up with the most perfect innocence into tho face of 
the priest and clerk, saying, “ I think you have made a 
mistake; it’s my sister that is to bo married." The sacred 
edifice itself, the solemnity of tho performance, the grave and 
solemn tones of the priest, all combined together, nearly 
failed to repress a growing risibility upon every countenance, 
except that of tiie bridegroom elect, whose blank aspect 
pourtrayed his dismay at the mishap so nearly consummated, 
and which would have shortly been irrovocublo. However 
the ladies changed places, anil the service having been again 
gone through, a few minutes served to tie the indissoluble 
knot, and tho happy bridegroom having imprinted a kiss 
upon the forehead of his youthful bride, the party loft the 
church ; and, we understand, the same evening the ship 
sailed, carrying with hor tho newly-wedded pair. We wish 
them a happy and prosperous voyage. — Maidstone Journal. 
Maidstone. — Wholesale Recovery op Stolen 
Horses. — Horse-stealing would really appear to be a fas- 
cinating aud attractive employment, otherwise it would bo 
difficult to imagine that, alter the detail of ihe numerous 
captures effected by Mr. Superintendent Tun-all, of the 
Boarsted division, at tho last Maidstone Sessions, any per- 
sons would bo found bold enough to adventure on the same 
practices. It is now proved that almost daily robberies of 
the kind take place in this and adjoining counties ; but, 
luckily for their losers, many of the animals have been 
traced aud restored to their owners. The ubiquity of Mr. 
Turrall lias again been severely tested, but his extraordinary 
vigilance lias once moro been most successful ; and no person 
will shortly bo surprised to hear that, in all cases where 
horseflesh is missing, he has been “ sent for " like the re- 
nowned Forresters of the Mansion House, and that, as a 
necessary consequonco, lie lias pounced upon the depredators 
red handed. Before the gang of villaius are entirely rooted 
out, he will be seen someday “ returning homo in triumph" 
leadiug a string of recovered cattle after him, realising one 
of those pictures of olden time, so pleasant to road about, 
where wo have a lowland laird returning with his cattle 
which had just been “ lifted ” by his highland neighbours. 
There is no rest for the useful ; for scarcely had the two 
prisoners been sentenced at the last sessions, when, on the 
18tli of January, Mr. Turrall received information that a 
pouy had been stolen from Headcorn, belonging to Mr. 
Barham. The officer went there, and discovered that 
another pony, belonging to Mr. Potter, at the same place, 
had been stolen on the same evening, the 17th of January. 
The superintendent at once proceeded to Sevenoaks, und 
there obtained the assistance of Superintendent Hundley. 
Journeying in a horse und cart, they traced the two horses 
to Otford ; thenco, after a complete steeplechase across 
tho country, about sixty miles from where the ponies 
were stolen, they got into the turnpike-road between God- 
stone and Croydon, stopped at the Half Moon public-house, 
and there found that two ponies hud been brought there 
about eleven on the previous morning, in the possession of 
two young men. One of tho animals was so knocked up 
with the journey it had been forced to take, that, when led 
into the stable of the house, it sank exhausted. The men 
left the house with the ponies about five on tho same a'ter- 
noon. The two superintendents then proceeded to Croydon, 
where thoy stopped all night. On the following morning 
they wont by train to Blackw iter, on the Reigate and Read- 
ing branch. Thence they proceeded to Knap-hill, on Bag- 
shot-heath, aud across the common to Guildford, where 
they took another conveyance and wont to Ranmoor-com- 
mon, near Dorking. There they got on the truce ot tho 
ponies, and found that tho two young men had stopped there 
a week before with a horse and cart they had stolen in 
Hampshire, and brought into Kent to dispose o'. The 
officers then proceeded to Reading, and from thore to 
Swallowfield. in Wiltshire, where, in the possession ot a 
man named Charles Lovegrovo, a small farmer, they found 
the two ponies, und a hor»e stolon from Mr. W. Vant, of 
Westwoll, *Cont, on the loth of December. Tlioy took 
Lovcgrove into cuato ly and sent him to Maidstone, where 
he was examined, nt the magistrates’ clerk's office, on 
Thursday week, before E. Burton, Esq., one of the county 
justices. They also found a horse at Swallowfield that had 
been stolen from Mr. Waghorne, of Headcorn, inSoptomber 
lust; and another horse, stolen from Mr. B. Cobb, of 
Appledore, which had boon sold to a man named Briscoe, a 
farmer, of Tadley, Hants. About a dozen others, whose 
owner* liavo not yot been found, have also been traced by 
the officers, who are still pursuing their inquiries ; and let 
us hope that thoy may succeed, not only in catching mora 
horses, but the vlliains who have so long infested the 
different counties . — Maidstone Journal. 
Windsor.— Supposed Attempt to Break into 
the Castle. — Next to setting tho Thames on firo, a bur- 
glarious entrance into Windsor Castle would appear to bo 
the most impossible thing to effect, and yet there is every 
reason to believo the attompt lias beon made. It is stated, 
on reliable authority, that Colonel tho Hon. A. N. Hood, of 
Cumberland-lodge, Clerk- Marshal to hid Royal Highness 
Prince Albert, arrived at the Windsor terminus of the 
South-Western Railway, by tho last train, about midnight 
on Monday. When the South-Western station was erected, 
some three years ago, a private carriage-road was made at 
the foot of the Slopes to tho castlo, the entrauco being im- 
mediately opposite her Mujesty’s waiting-room. This road 
is used only by members ol the Royal family, and by gentle- 
men attached to the royal household. On leaving the train 
last Monday night, Colonel Hood proceeded by the Slopes, 
as the nearest way to the castle, and was not a little sur- 
prised to encounter in Ids walk seven or eight men with 
their luces blackened and their foet muffled, if he might 
judge by the noiseless character of thoir movements. The 
ruffians fled ut the approach of the honourable and gallant 
gentleman, and have not since beou heard of. On Inquiry, 
it appeured that the suspected burglars were observed by 
the sentinel ou duty at the corner of the Princo of Wales’s 
Tower (on the basement of which is the gold pantry), and 
that he, looking down from tho Terraco, threatened io fire 
upon them. To tnis they replied, that if he attempted to 
fire, or give the alarm, they would blow Ills brains out. 
The hostile parley had proceeded thus far, when Colonel 
Hood entered by the lodge-gate in Datchet-lane, aud tho 
burglars doubtless supposed that lie was ut tho head of a 
party sent to capturo thorn. This will account for thoir 
precipitate flight and subsequent oscapo. Ou tho arrival 
of Colonel Hood at the castlo, the polico were ordered to 
patrol the Slopes for the remainder of the night, but they 
could detect nothing likely to excite suspicion, or servo as a 
clue to the apprehension of the guilty parties. The affuir 
lias created a great sensation in Windsor, and will cause the 
pdlaco to be guarded more strictly tliuu ever, especially 
after nightfall. 
THE WEATHER AND THE FARM. 
Rather Late. — A farmer uear Durham did not finish 
his harvest till tho 2nd of January. 
Corn Averages. — V.n interesting discussion was hold at 
tho London Farmers’ Club on Monday evening, “outho 
present imperfect mode of taking tho corn averages." The 
subject was introduced by Mr. W. Pain, of Compton, 
Winchester ; and Messrs. W. F. Hnblts, Pyle (Winchester), 
R. Baker (Essex), Grainger, Lear (Arundel), Pulnn (Bed- 
ford), Spearing, Coote (Sussex), Cubitt, Skelton (Lincoln- 
shire), E. Stenniog (Surrey), Reeves, Aicheson, Wingate, 
Wood, Trethewy, and other gentlemen, from various parte 
of the kingdom, took part in the debate, which ultimately 
terminated by the adoption of the following resolution : — 
“That, in tho opinion of this club, tho present mode of 
taking the corn averages is imperfect in its operation, and 
highly injurious to tho agriculturists of this country. That 
returns should be made by the grower of all corn sold by 
him, verified by the signature of the buyer— such returns 
to be taken by the Excise or Inland Revenue Officers.'’ 
Sevenoaks. — Effects of Free Trade. — It is under- 
stood that all tho large game preservers in our neighbour- 
hood are about to discharge their keepers, and give up the 
occupation of preserving. The ouly wonder is, that they 
should not have come to this resolution long since. A great 
source of crime will now, it is hoped, be entirely got rid of ; 
and doubtless, on the open system, game will be nearly as 
plentiful as hitherto. If not, it cau easily be dispeused with, 
and that moro useful article, corn, preserved instead.— 
South Eastern Gazette. 
The West of England.— The country between Bridg- 
water and Taunton is almost one sheet of water, from the 
overflowing of several streams since the lata heavy rains. 
Those overflows cause a rich deposit, and the district con- 
tains some of tho finest pasturage in England. The crops 
look very vigorous and healthy. 
WORK AND WAGES. 
The Shiimviuouts of tub Tyne and Wear — The 
shipwrights ofthe Tyne and Wear struck work on Saturday 
for an advance of wages from 30s. to 30». a-week. By 10 
o’clock in tho forenoon the Shields masters had complied 
with the terms of the men ; and it is thought that in u day or 
two all the Wear men will have come to terms with their em- 
ployers and gone to work again. Tho difference in the posi- 
tion of tho masters on the Tyne aud We ir is, that on the 
former river tho inon arc ongaged at old work ; on the 
latter iu ship-building, — the masters having contracted 
to build tho new ships, estimating the men’s wages at 3U*J 
per week. 
Opening op the Mills at Preston.— Ihe town was 
amazed on Wednesday by the publication of a placard an- 
nouncing, iu the following terms, the opening of tho mills 
on Thursday the 9th iust. " At a special meeting of tho 
Associated Masters, held at tho Bull Hotel, in Preston, on 
Wednesday, the 9th of February 1854, it was unanimously 
resolved, that in consequence of the groatly increased dis- 
position shown by the operatives to resume work since the 
meeting ofthe Associated Masters on the 20th of January 
last, ami firmly believing that large numbers have been 
deterred from openly manifesting a desire to free theinsolvos 
from thoir present loaders, nod to return to their respective 
employment, only by fear of ill-treatment, and of tho lovsof 
their present means ofsubsistoaeo ; this mooting is of opinion, 
that the time bus ut lougtli arrived when it is incumbent ou 
the masters, in fulfilment of the pledges repeatedly given by 
them, to rc-open their mills, in the hope of thereby bringing 
this unfortunate and protracted dispute to uti end. uud of 
rescuing the town und neighbourhood from that wide-spread 
mid rapidly increasing distress from which they are now 
unhappily suffering. Public notice, therefore, is lioreby 
given, that tho several mills of tho Associated Masters will 
be re-opened, and will be prepared for a resumption ot work 
to-morrow (Thursday), ut 8 o’clock in the morning, upon 
the terms and iu accordance with tho resolution passed ou 
the 4th of November last ; aud all persons desirous of obtain- 
